Chittagong pitch would be a run fest

Dhaka, May 13 (UNI) The Chittagong Divisional Stadium is ready for a run fest during the third ODI between India and Bangladesh with a hard flat pitch that looks like a batting heaven.

Talking to UNI in between shouting instructions to his team of groundsmen, curator Shaiful Alam Belal said, ''It's going to be a batting paradise. There will be lots of runs and that is what happens with this ground.'' Sri Lanka played the first ODI here and score 309 runs and Bangladesh batted second to score 230 in 2006. The other two matches have been comparatively low scoring with the hosts making 195 against Australia last year and the visitors earning an easy win.

The third ODI here saw a weaker Scotland bat first and score 153 and Bangladesh wallop up those runs in 29.1 overs.

Belal said, ''The ground is fully prepared, but unlike the Mirpur Stadium the lower layer is of clayey soil so drainage could be a problem in case of rains.'' However, the super soppers were at hand, he assured.

The sea within half a kilometer of the ground has an effect on the pitch. Belal said, ''When there is high tide in the sea the ground gets more moisture. But that is early in the morning.'' ''The game starts at around nine. By then the sun is up and the moisture disappears,'' he said.

India has already pocketed the series winning the two ODIs at Mirpur. But Ravi Shastri, India's cricket manager, has said, ''Don't expect any mercy from us. We will play hard in the third ODI. We are eyeing a clean sweep of the series.'' Asked what would he do if he won the toss, Belal said, ''I would have batted first.'' He also said there would be something for the bowlers who are willing to bend their back. ''There would be something for the bowlers who have the zing in them. Mashraffe would be a handful first up,'' he said.

But the Indians are coming in fully loaded. So hopefully May 14 we would see an absorbing battle.

UNI